Nina was a close and sparing housekeeper, but with all her economy she could not feed three people upon nothing.

Latterly, from month to month, she had sold one thing out of the house after another, knowing as each article went that provision from such store as that must soon fail her.

But anything was better than taking money from her aunt whom she hated--except taking money from the Jew whom she loved.

From him she had taken none, though it had been often offered.

"You have lost more than enough by father," she had said to him when the offer had been made.